Big Blue Bus held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new eco-friendly maintenance facility yesterday — and Santa Monica City Councilmembers Pam O’Connor and Kevin McKeown, along with other leaders and some Big Blue Bus employees — broke ground for the project — with cute blue shovels!
Big Blue Bus will get a bigger bus parking lot, a 66,000 square foot maintenance facility that’ll hopefully be LEED certified when completed in early 2010.
Green components range from using recycling construction materials to water-efficient landscaping with a gray water and storm water management system to using light-colored concrete and roofing to keep things cooler. Plus, recycled carpets and other items’ll be used in the offices, which’ll have dual glazed, low-e glazing and no VOC off-gassing materials.
But apparently construction won’t begin until Feb. 2008. Is a 5-month wait period between groundbreaking and construction considered average?
Hi Siel –
Did you actually make it on Monday? So sorry I didn’t see you. FYI: construction actually started already. The cement we were standing on Monday is already gone!
Let me know if you have any other questions –
Linda
Comment by Linda Gamberg — September 26, 2007 @ 8:35 am
Really? The press release says Feb 2008…. I came only briefly — and was near the back to stay close to my bike –
Comment by Siel — September 26, 2007 @ 12:15 pm
I am surprised Big Blue Bus is committed to keeping that yard.
Metro has been looking to develop its divisions in high-rent areas. It already sold its present Division 6, between Santa Monica and Venice, to move it to an industrial part of Culver City, near the CityBus yard. Metro is looking into selling Division 7, near the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.
Santa Monica might have received a lot of money for its yard, which is one block east of the Santa Monica Place mall and less than half a mile from the Pier. There are residences near it now.
Trouble is, Big Blue Bus would need even more land, and all of Santa Monica is expensive. There’s very little industrial land now, and the Expo Line is going to take more of it.
Comment by Wad — September 26, 2007 @ 3:35 pm
Hi again –
Thank so much for coming out. In response to your last question, the press release is accurate, but pre-construction demolition has started, i.e. ground has already been broken, grading is occurring, structures are being dismantled, etc. Next celebration you’ll receive an invite for is the grand opening of Blue: the Transit Store at 223 Broadway (just west of 3rd St. Promenade). I’ll keep you posted…
Take care –
Linda
Comment by Linda Gamberg — October 3, 2007 @ 12:10 am